Council chairman says some landowners at fault

Etonia Rokotuisuva walks across the Qaracobocobo Gorge at Namau Village in Tailevu. Picture: JONE LUVENITOGA

SOME landowners are making it impossible for Water Authority of Fiji to carry out water project works in their villages causing delays in development.

Tailevu Provincial Council chairman Josefa Serulagilagi said sometimes, landowners were to be blamed for the delay in development in their various villages because they did not allow developments to take place on their land.

Mr Serulagilagi said landowners or villagers had the responsibility to offer their assistance in developing their village, especially on getting proper supply of water to their villages.

He said there had been a lot of discussion about the water project in Namau, especially on land disputes on who was to be paid for compensation before works were carried out. He said he was happy to hear that WAF had been able to confirm that works could be carried out now for the area.

He said WAF and the iTaukei Land Trust Board had done a good job in trying to address the issue, which had been a topic of discussion for sometime for the province.

WAF public relations officer Maika Nagalu said WAF hoped to complete all their water projects for the province of Tailevu this year so other works could be carried out for next year.